Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 541: Chapter 538: Meeting

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They were eating slices of meat while casually discussing this major event.

The demotion of Prince Hao to a commoner, though not widely noticed by the common folk, is indeed a significant event.

This matter will plunge the entire court of the Da Meng Dynasty into turmoil.

Xiao Ruoling slightly furrowed her delicate brows, ”In such circumstances, can we still negotiate?”

Shen Hanyue remarked, ”They probably have no mind to deal with us, right?”

Xu Yingying said, ”What does this have to do with our negotiations? The ones responsible for negotiations are those people. No matter the chaos in the court, they can’t neglect the proper business, right?”

Xiao Ruoling gently shook her head, ”This kind of situation is extremely sensitive. Once the court is in turmoil, officials become anxious and distracted, perhaps today they are an Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and tomorrow they might be demoted to outside the capital.”

Shen Hanyue tilted her head, ”What should we do then? Would it not be in vain to have come this far?”

Xiao Ruoling said, ”Let’s see; the situation will become very complicated.”

She looked towards Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”We can only watch and wait for changes; this might not be without opportunities for us.”

As to what to do, it depends on the progress of the situation, either to fan the flames or to seize opportunities amidst dangers.

The current turmoil in Da Meng actually aligns with the interests of Da Jing.

The more unstable Da Meng is, the more stable Da Jing becomes.

Once Da Jing undergoes a qualitative change in strength, no longer fearing Da Meng, then negotiations would assume a different form.

As the four were eating, there was another ”knock knock” at the door outside.

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow.

Zou Fang went forward to open the door, and outside stood the serene and gentle Great Grandmaster Su Qiuyan.

Chu Zhiyuan called out, ”Mr. Su, please come in.”

Su Qiuyan laughed, ”I won’t come in yet; there are a few words for the Princely Heir.”

Chu Zhiyuan put down his chopsticks, went to the doorway, and smiled, ”Is there an instruction from the Ninth Prince?”

Su Qiuyan used Sound Transmission into Secret, keeping her voice extremely low, ”The Emperor wishes to see the Princely Heir privately.”

”Now?”

”Preferably now.”

”...Alright, let’s go.” Chu Zhiyuan hesitated briefly, then slowly nodded.

He turned back and said, ”Ruoling, I’ll be back soon.”

”Be careful,” Xiao Ruoling said softly.

She saw the look in Chu Zhiyuan’s eyes, indicating she need not ask more.

She immediately heard Chu Zhiyuan’s voice, telling her it was Li Hongzhao secretly seeking him.

”Mm, I’m off.”

Chu Zhiyuan waved and stepped out of the courtyard.

Zou Fang followed closely, even closing the courtyard gate.

Shen Hanyue tilted her head, looking at the courtyard gate with confusion, ”Who is it?”

She felt Su Qiuyan’s actions were sneaky and mysterious.

Xiao Ruoling softly said, ”Li Hongzhao.”

Shen Hanyue and Xu Yingying’s eyes widened in surprise, ”Her?”

Xiao Ruoling lightly nodded.

Shen Hanyue said, ”It’s said that Li Hongzhao is closely related to the Princely Heir, is it true?”

She then nodded, ”It seems to be true.”

Xu Yingying said, ”Aren’t they supposed to be arch-enemies?”

Xiao Ruoling laughed softly, ”Their relationship is very complicated, not easy to define as good or bad. They fight fiercely but know each other well... It’s correct to say they are closely connected.”

”As soon as the Princely Heir arrives, she eagerly meets him in secret; they must be close.” Shen Hanyue pouted.

Xu Yingying giggled, ”Could they have a secret affair?”

Xiao Ruoling laughed, ”You all... you think too little of the Ninth Prince; she has no romantic entanglements in her eyes.”

She pursues the control of the world, the great path of heaven and earth, the ultimate realm of cultivation.

Romance is considered inferior to her, something without ambition.

Shen Hanyue pouted, ”No matter how one looks down on romantic affairs, people still have flesh, blood, emotions, and desires.”

She disagreed.

She believed no matter how powerful a woman is, she is still a woman, and meeting a formidable man, she would still fall for him.

Just like Xiao Ruoling, who in her eyes was no different from a real fairy.

She still fell for Chu Zhiyuan in the end.

Li Hongzhao, no matter how powerful, is still a woman, and would eventually have her heart stolen by a man.

Xiao Ruoling said, ”It’s different.”

She cast her gaze towards the direction Chu Zhiyuan left.

——

Chu Zhiyuan and Su Qiuyan walked side by side, as if treading the wind.

Zou Fang followed closely.

Chu Zhiyuan didn’t say much, leaving the post station and arriving at the foot of a mountain.

...

The sun was about to set.

The sky was filled with evening glow.

The woods at the foot of the mountain were shrouded in a thin twilight haze, quiet and desolate.

Outside the woods, a woman in red stood with her hands behind her back by a small river.

The river water gurgled, striking stones with a crisp sound, and the clear waves shimmered brightly.

The woman in red, slender and graceful, looked down at the fish swimming in the river.

Her alluring and beautiful face was indifferent.

The shimmering waves reflected in her long phoenix eyes, like countless jewels shimmering together.

She suddenly looked up towards the opposite side.

Chu Zhiyuan was gracefully gliding over the treetops, like a cloud drifting down in front of her.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Your Highness, it’s been a while, are you well?”

Li Hongzhao’s beautiful face bloomed with a smile, as if thousands of pear blossoms bloomed on trees.

The whole world seemed to brighten by three points.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”It seems Your Highness is doing well; the imperial throne is nourishing, isn’t it?”

”You should try it,” Li Hongzhao’s red lips parted with a light laugh, ”to see if the throne is nourishing.”

Although they hadn’t seen each other for a while, upon meeting they immediately found that familiar feeling after just a couple of sentences.

”The throne is not easy to sit on, it seems,” Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”have you ever regretted it?”

”To be honest, ... a little regret,” Li Hongzhao nodded slightly.

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.

Zou Fang stepped back a few steps.

Su Qiuyan had long disappeared; only the two of them were at the foot of the mountain beside the woods.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Is it because there are too many opponents, making it hard to secure the throne?”

”Yes.” Li Hongzhao replied, ”Father passed the throne too hastily; I was completely unprepared.”

”Even if you had been prepared, the result would likely have been the same, right?” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The current opponents would still oppose, not changing their stance because of your strength, would they?”

”...Indeed.” Li Hongzhao sighed lightly.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Some can be easily dealt with, and some cannot, right? ... You’ll find, being Emperor, you can’t act freely, can’t grant life or death at will, instead becoming more constrained, like achieving the status of Great Grandmaster, isn’t it?”

”That’s right.” Li Hongzhao slowly nodded.

Being constrained, it’s exactly that feeling.

Some opponents are due to interests, factional struggles, which is manageable.

But there are even more opponents who genuinely act for the public good, believing a woman as Emperor upends the universe, impacting not only the court but also the entire society.

It completely dismisses some traditional concepts, causing insurmountable problems.

And these people often act justly, with a clear name, wielding massive influence.

For the former, they can be disbanded, co-opted, suppressed, or even directly expelled from the court.

But for the latter, such blunt methods cannot be applied.

Yet, once hesitant, it becomes a severe constraint, binding hands and feet, causing the Imperial Decree to even lose authority.

She can be ruthless, but once she truly acts ruthlessly, the impact is terrible, problems endless.

Either facing current troubles or solving current troubles, leaving future troubles behind.

She has been pondering how to make a choice.

Li Hongzhao said, ”If it were you, what would you do?”

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